Question 1

The imbalance of gender roles in organizations demonstrates that modern organizations have:

Accepted Answer

The imbalance of gender roles in organizations demonstrates that modern organizations have developed in a gendered way, favoring men in certain positions and roles while discouraging women from entering them. This gender imbalance can be seen in the lack of women in leadership positions, the gender pay gap, and the persistence of gender stereotypes and biases in hiring and promotion practices.

Question 2

According to Robert Michels's concept of the "iron law of oligarchy":

Accepted Answer

According to Michels's concept of the "iron law of oligarchy," power is inevitably concentrated at the top of large-scale organizations. This means that a small group of leaders will eventually emerge and become the ruling class, regardless of the organization's initial democratic ideals. As a result, democratic principles become diluted, and the organization becomes more hierarchical and oligarchic over time.

Question 3

At Digi-Corp,each employee receives an employee manual outlining the rules on how employees and managers should work together and interact.These rules are referred to as the __________ between employee and manager.

Accepted Answer

The employee manual provides formal guidelines on how employees and managers should interact, which is why the rules can be referred to as formal relations. Option B) informal relations would not be accurate as the rules outlined in the employee manual are not informal. Option C) primary groups refers to small groups of people who interact regularly and share a sense of belonging, which is not relevant to the context of the question. Option D) surveillance is not relevant to the context of the question either, and option E) flexible rules does not accurately describe the rules outlined in the employee manual as they are likely to be fairly rigid and standardized.

Question 4

Max Weber concluded that the closer bureaucracies were to the ideal type,the more __________ they would become.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber believed that bureaucracies which were closer to the ideal type, with features such as a hierarchical structure, division of labor, rules and regulations, and impersonal relationships, would be more effective in achieving their objectives.

Question 5

Which of the following best characterizes the place of women in bureaucratic organizations such as corporations?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that women are often relegated to performing routine administrative and support tasks in bureaucratic organizations, while men tend to hold key decision-making positions. This trend is often referred to as the "glass ceiling," which refers to the invisible barrier that prevents women from advancing to higher positions in organizations. While there may be some corporate cultures that encourage women to climb the ladder, this is not generally the norm, as evidenced by the persistent pay disparities and underrepresentation of women in higher-level positions. Therefore, the most accurate characterization of women's place in bureaucratic organizations is that they are often viewed as playing supporting roles and performing routine tasks.

Question 6

Max Weber believed the more an organization approaches the ideal type of bureaucracy,the more effective it will be in pursuing the objectives for which it was established.However,he also recognized that bureaucracies can create some negatives such as:

Accepted Answer

Weber recognized that bureaucracies can become inefficient because of the strict adherence to rules and regulations, making it difficult to respond to new issues. While the other options may also be negative consequences of a bureaucracy, they are not specifically mentioned by Weber as some of the drawbacks.

Question 7

Many of the organizations we see in modern society today have the hierarchical structure that Max Weber argued characterizes modern organizations.However,today many organizations are changing to a more __________ structure.

Accepted Answer

A horizontal structure is characterized by a flattened hierarchy with minimal levels of management and more shared decision-making power among employees. This structure enables greater collaboration and flexibility, and can lead to increased innovation and faster decision-making. As such, many organizations are moving away from the traditional vertical, hierarchical structure in order to adapt to the faster pace and demands of modern society.

Question 8

According to Max Weber's ideal type of bureaucracy:

Accepted Answer

Max Weber's ideal type of bureaucracy emphasizes the importance of a set of rules that govern the conduct of officials at all levels of the organization. This ensures consistency, fairness, and efficiency. Room for innovation and negotiable salaries are not mentioned as key elements of Weber's ideal type of bureaucracy. Ownership being in the hands of the workers is more characteristic of worker cooperatives than bureaucracies.

Question 9

Until the late twentieth century,organizational studies largely ignored:

Accepted Answer

Until the late twentieth century, organizational studies largely ignored gender relations. It was not until the feminist movement and the increased attention to diversity and inclusion that gender became a topic of interest in organizational studies. Organizational studies have since explored how gender impacts organizational structures, leadership, culture, and workplace dynamics.

Question 10

All large organizations tend to be __________,according to Max Weber.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber believed that large organizations tend to be bureaucracies, meaning they are characterized by hierarchical authority structures, formalized rules and procedures, specialized roles, and impersonality in decision-making.

Question 11

According to Max Weber,which of the following is difficult to achieve in a rigid bureaucratic organization?

Accepted Answer

According to Max Weber, innovation is difficult to achieve in a rigid bureaucratic organization where rules and procedures are strictly followed. This is because innovation often requires flexibility, creativity, and experimentation, which may be inhibited in a bureaucratic environment that values stability and predictability over change and novelty. While efficiency, rationality, and compliance are important values in bureaucratic organizations, they are not necessarily incompatible with innovation, but they may require a different approach to leadership, management, and organizational culture.

Question 12

Every Friday,Google,Inc.,encourages all of its employees to attend a speaker series in which authors,athletes,and other famous and inspiring people speak.This weekly corporate event is an example of a management trend known as:

Accepted Answer

The weekly speaker series is an example of the corporate culture at Google, Inc. It demonstrates the values and beliefs that are important to the company and reinforces the idea of continuous learning and personal growth for employees.

Question 13

Formal organizations:

Accepted Answer

Formal organizations are designed in a rational manner to achieve specific objectives. This includes things like having a clear chain of command, standard procedures, and specific roles and responsibilities for each member of the organization. While there may be some distribution of power, it is not necessarily evenly distributed. Additionally, the size of the organization does not necessarily dictate the flexibility of its rules and procedures, and the rise of formal organizations in modern societies is likely due to a number of factors beyond just changes in family structure.

Question 14

Which of the following is an advantage of telecommuting?

Accepted Answer

Telecommuting eliminates the time spent commuting to and from work, which can increase productivity and allow for more work-life balance. It also reduces traffic congestion and air pollution. The other choices are not advantages of telecommuting. Choice A is subjective and ignores the benefits of workplace socialization. Choice B perpetuates gender stereotypes. Choice C is unethical and can lead to disciplinary action. Choice D creates an unfair hierarchy among employees.

Question 15

According to the text,the use of information and communications technology in corporations has reduced the rigid hierarchical structure of corporations,but at the same time it has created:

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text,the use of information...

Question 16

Max Weber argued that __________ is necessary in modern societies.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber argued that bureaucracy is necessary in modern societies because it provides a rational and efficient way to organize and manage complex social systems. Bureaucracies are characterized by clear rules, procedures, and hierarchies of authority, which help ensure consistency and predictability in decision-making and action. According to Weber, bureaucracies are essential for achieving the goals of modern society, including economic efficiency, social stability, and rational governance.

Question 17

Robert Merton noted that bureaucrats are trained to:

Accepted Answer

Robert Merton noted that bureaucrats are trained to rely strictly on written rules and procedures, as they are meant to ensure consistency and fairness in decision-making. This helps to eliminate bias or personal favoritism in the bureaucratic process.

Question 18

According to human resources management theory,which of the following is central to a company's competitiveness?

Accepted Answer

Employee dedication to the company and its product is central to a company's competitiveness according to human resources management theory. This is because dedicated employees are more likely to work harder and be more committed to achieving the company's goals, which can lead to increased productivity and innovation. A company mascot, employee autonomy, telecommuting, and bottom-up decision making may all have their benefits, but they are not as central to a company's competitiveness as employee dedication.

Question 19

At the Symantec Corporation,a majority of the decisions were made by the CEO,the president,and the vice president,with little decision-making power given to upper-level managers or other employers.This type of concentration of power among a few people in an organization is called:

Accepted Answer

An oligarchy refers to a system of government or organization in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. In the given scenario, a majority of decisions were made by the CEO, president, and vice president, indicating an oligarchic structure. The other options, such as capitalism, anarchy, and bureaucracy, do not accurately describe the power structure mentioned in the scenario.

Question 20

John Meyer and Brian Rowan found that the formal procedures in a bureaucracy are often:

Accepted Answer

Meyer and Rowan found that the formal procedures in a bureaucracy are often just myths that people claim to follow but are not actually followed by organizational members.

Quiz 5: Groups, Networks, and Organizations